Welcome to the latest edition of Looks from Books, which aims to prove that you can look smart, while still being book-smart, too. Fashion inspiration can be found between the pages of your favorite stories, on well-designed book covers, and in your favorite characters… if you read closely enough.

This week, we’re feeling appropriately in love with all things lovely, featuring the classic romance novel, Sense and Sensibility, just in time for Valentine’s Day tomorrow!

Sense and Sensibility book cover via Amazon

Table of Contents

A Fashionable Literacy

A movie poster for the 1995 adaptation via Amazon

The film and TV adaptations of Austen’s works are many, and Sense and Sensibility is no exception. TV series based on the novel ran in 1981 and 2008, with the latter starring Charity Wakefield and Hattie Morahan as the two sisters, and Dominic Cooper and Dan Stevens as their respective romantic interests.

The most famous incarnation of the novel, however, was the 1995 film, starring Kate Winslet as Marianne and Emma Thompson as Elinor, joined by additional star talents as Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman as their suitors, and was directed by Oscar-winner Ang Lee.

Aesthetically, Lee’s work tends to adhere to the specific fashions of the time period in which the work is set, and Sense and Sensibility is of the standard. The film’s costumes feature empire waists, full-length pleated gowns in muted colors and patterns, lace shawls, and braided up-dos covered by bonnets. While these styles might prove difficult to wear today, Spring 2013’s RTW shows did include some nods to the 1800s: Bottega Veneta sent demure, modest silhouettes and sweet florals down the runway, and Dries Van Noten even included several modern takes on the full-length, long-sleeved gown in their collection.

How to Add Marianne and Elinor to Your Wardrobe

By integrating some of the key characteristics and thematic elements of Austen’s novels into your wardrobe, you, too, can find a sweet and society-ready look, both Valentine’s- and Austen-worthy. (Finding the perfect Austen love interest for the holiday, however, is completely up to you!)